Wooden Bullets.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 5, 31 January 1912, Page 58

Wooden Bullets.

Tlie Chinese are not alone in using Wooden ammunition for their artillery. Three years ago civil war was raging between two Afghan tribes, the Ali Khel and the Mala Khel. The latter tribe built great hopes of success on a cannon of sueh a size that 160 men were required to draw it. A Sikh trained in a British )>i*je>y was engaged to work the

t.'.in, on the understanding that lie received 20 rupees every time he hit the village fort of the foe. This did not prove remunerative, for according to an eye witness the ammunition consisted of “olive wood balls bound with iron bands, which have a highly eecentrie flight, and are calculated to do about equal damage to friend and foe."’ After a three days’ bombardment, in which the fort was hit only three times, the host P-ties came to an end